Ph.D.s in Quackery

[dawgmom]

So...someone at work was talking about a form of quackery I'd never heard of, called "Iridology." Practitioners believe that studying the iris of the eye reveals things about the person's health.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridology
Further googling led me to the "International Iridology Practitioners Association" (Ooooh....they have an association. They MUST be legit.) http://www.iridologyassn.org/Home.aspx
Further cruising on that site led me to bios of the board of directors, including at least one person named "Trixie." (Thought that was appropriate.) My favorite finding, however, was that the President of the board has a "PhD in Natural Health, Nutrition and Iridology." WTF??? Where does one matriculate to earn such an esteemed degree? The bio doesn't state, but my guess would be that it's this fine institution of higher learning, of which I've also never heard: http://www.ccnh.edu/
Here's what Quackwatch has this to say about Clayton College of Natural Health:
http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/Nonrecorg/clayton.html

Good Gawd -- these people can just go around saying they have a Ph.D. in something, with their gullible consumers unaware of the insignificance of that designation in their case?

[trotsky]

1. Your quote:

these people can just go around saying they have a Ph.D. in something, with their gullible consumers unaware of the insignificance of that designation in their case?

Yes. Their dupes are just that duped. You should come visit in the Health dungeon more often to see. :evilgrin:

[dawgmom]

3. Noooo....I can't go in there

Housewives and Militant Mommmies hate me, and that place is crawling with them. I am inching my way towards 1000 posts, and amazed that I have had only one blowup thus far. If I go in there, I will surely say something that will bring out the torch-carriers. I just can't help myself. ;)

[dawgmom]

5. Just peeked -- you certainly fight the good fight in there!

I was just cruising one particular thread in which you were trying to pound some sense into a rather thick skull. I loved this comment you made, which really perfectly sums up the whole atmosphere in there. It's why I have to limit my time there.

C'mon, varkam, you know all too well..

that these people hold advanced training and education in CONTEMPT. All these threads end up stinking of anti-intellectualism - it's like right-wing talk radio bashing climate scientists. Certain people have strong emotional investment in a belief, so strong that any facts to the contrary must be dismissed with malice, and those bringing them forth judged with arrogant disdain.

[trotsky]

8. Thank you, I try.

I just can't let the bullshit slide in there. Too many people might stumble across that forum and accept the nonsensical ramblings as truth, and end up causing untold harm to themselves or their loved ones.

[TZ]

13. Ha ha you should see some of the kindergarten stuff

that gets tossed at trotsky its hilarious...."I know you are but what am I...":rofl:

[onager]

2. You can get a PhD *AND* listing in Who's Who!

Plus a certificate declaring you "Person of the Year" in whatever field you choose.

You may think this sort of academic appreciation takes years of study and hard work. Nope. It actually takes about US $800, depending on how many accolades you want.

Look, Memory-Water Guy did it:

Please let me introduce to you Dr David Schweitzer who in 1992 was awarded ABI’s Man of the Year for his contributions to complementary medicine.

His field of endeavour was “demonstrating that water can act as a liquid memory system capable of storing information. This discovery now makes it possible to photograph the stored frequencies of homeopathic remedies, as well as research the impact of positive and negative thoughts on the fluids of the body."

David explains how he came to this remarkable discovery, “The whole thing started out after having observed blood for over a decade and discovering that blood cells expressed themselves with a language based on sacred geometry, shape, colour, and harmonious shapes.”

I ranted about this in another Skeptic thread, concerning "Elizabeth Joyce, Psychic." (Listed in ABI's Who's Who!):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=247x20862#21069

[dawgmom]

4. aaarrrghhhhh---I need a "pulling out my hair" smilie

Thanks for sharing this.

Love the "Who's Who" stuff. I've been getting those solicitations for years. And occasionally, I'll see somebody's bio -- somebody who's not even a woo -- and they'll list a Who's Who membership. I thought everybody knew that those paid Who's Who are bogus, but I guess not.

[TZ]

6. I'm in several Who's Who without asking to be put

Never paid for it, never put it on my resume..My favorite one is for Top Professional Female Who's Who..I guess cause I worked at NIH...

[dawgmom]

7. Yes, me too...

...but like you, I would never put them on my CV/bio. I think that most professionals know they're a joke.

[dawgmom]

12. Who's Who of Woo -- perfect. n/t

[dropkickpa]

9. I couldn't hold out any longer

[dawgmom]

10. Now all you need...

...is to figure out how to photoshop a mortarboard onto the duck's head, and you've got it! The perfect avatar....

[TZ]

11. You know...

You should post that as a reply to certain people in the health forum..Its perfect!:rofl:

[moggie]

15. ...

[semillama]

14. I have a Doktorate in the Forbidden Sciences.

Really, it's around here somewhere, along with my all-purpose Excuse Scroll...